ACCORDING to some, Sharks superboot Francois Steyn is not playing in tonight's Super 14 semi-final against the Waratahs at the Sydney Football Stadium. But anyone who was at the ground yesterday for the Sharks' final training session would be putting their last dollar on Steyn appearing in the centres tonight.

In the middle of the field, a relaxed Steyn, who was supposedly hampered by rib complaints, was place-kicking goal after goal from more than 50 metres out.

It was not exactly the usual pre-match preparation of someone who was supposed to be a mere spectator. But that was suggested by some media outlets yesterday, which were claiming Steyn was no chance of appearing and that Brad Barritt and Adrian Jacobs were the centres on a supposedly official team list, and there was only one back on the bench.

Was this the usual ducks and drakes that occur when a South African team appears in the finals - especially as the sides don't have to provide an official team list until an hour before the match?

Certainly not, according to Sharks coach Dick Muir. When asked by the Herald yesterday about the speculation that Steyn was not playing, he replied: "He is playing. He is fine. He will be playing at No.12."

In the background, Steyn, much to the disappointment of Waratahs supporters who know that the outcome of the final could hinge on the 21-year-old Springbok's abilities, was walking purposefully towards the team bus.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie has been preparing for Steyn confronting Tom Carter in midfield.

"We're assuming he's playing … after all he trained yesterday as well," McKenzie said.

Earlier, Muir told the South African media that Steyn had been included, despite Barritt's recent excellent form, because the Springboks utility was "a big-game player and his enormous boot is a weapon most teams do not have at their disposal".

"Obviously, the context of this game is different," Muir said. "No bonus points are required in a semi-final. You take whatever points are on offer whenever you can, and you give the opposition as little opportunity to attack you as possible."

The Waratahs even made a point of mentioning Steyn yesterday, with Test winger Lote Tuqiri explaining that the home team had to remain disciplined, because of the threat of their opponent kicking field goals from 60 to 70 metres out.

Seventy metres may be stretching it, but Steyn certainly can boot them from an incredible distance.

Discipline will also be the Sharks' byword, especially after the semi-final referee New Zealander Bryce Lawrence was right on their case when they were beaten by the Brumbies in Canberra last month.

Lawrence's role in that game was critical, sending No.8 Ryan Kankowski and Steyn to the sin bin in the second half because of indiscretions at the tackle area, and the Brumbies rebounded from 18-7 down to score the next 20 points. Lawrence was harsh on the Sharks at the breakdown, repeatedly giving the Brumbies free kicks for the visitors being offside.

The Sharks were clearly unsettled by Lawrence, with several players penalised for talking back at him. When asked of Lawrence's appointment, Muir said: "We're quite relaxed with that. There's human error in this game. I'm sure he would have learnt, and we learnt from the Brumbies game, including that chirping back doesn't help you. We have no problems with Bryce."